EXL Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

2016 Fourth Quarter Revenues of $177.3 Million, up 6.9% year over year4Q Diluted EPS (GAAP) of $0.45, up from $0.43 in Q4 of 2015 4Q Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) of $0.61, up from $0.56 in Q4 of 2015

2016 Revenues of $686.0 Million, up 9.1% year over year2016 Diluted EPS (GAAP) of $1.79, up from $1.51 in 20152016 Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) of $2.33, up from $2.03 in 2015

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ExlService Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXLS), a leading operations management and analytics company, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and the full year 2016.

Rohit Kapoor, Vice Chairman and CEO, commented, "Our fourth quarter 2016 revenues beat expectations, and for the full year 2016 revenues increased 9.1% year over year or 10.9% in constant currency (non-GAAP) to $686.0 million. We achieved an 18.4% increase in diluted EPS to $1.79 and a 14.8% increase in adjusted diluted EPS to $2.33 for the full year 2016. Our revenues growth this year was led by our Analytics
segment which grew 35.7% for the full year. Our Operations Management segment revenues growth was 2.7% for the full year driven by new and existing clients offset by weakness in our consulting business.

"Our growth was broad-based, the result of our driving superior customer experiences and our investments in automation and robotics including the Business EXLerator Framework™. The integrated selling of our business process management and analytics solutions continues to strengthen our competitive positioning with our clients and prospects. Our three acquisitions in 2016 have been assimilated and are performing at or above expectations. I believe our market position is strong, and we have great momentum to execute our growth plans in 2017."

Vishal Chhibbar, CFO, commented, "In 2016, we generated $100.3 million of
cash flow from operations and ended the year with $226.6 million in cash and short term investments. For 2017, we are providing revenue guidance of $735 million to $760 million, representing annual revenue growth of 8% to11% in constant currency. Our adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance is $2.50 to $2.60, representing an increase of 7% to 12%."

Financial Highlights: Fourth Quarter 2016

We have two reportable segments: Operations Management and Analytics. Reconciliations of adjusted (non-GAAP) financial measures, including those reflecting constant currency, to GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.

Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 increased to $177.3 million compared to
$165.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, up 6.9% (8.4% on a constant currency basis) from the fourth quarter of 2015 and up 3.5% sequentially from the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

- Operations Management revenues in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased 1.8% to $131.8 million compared to $129.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and increased 1.7% sequentially from the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

- Analytics revenues in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased 24.9% to $45.5 million compared to $36.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, and increased 9.3% sequentially from the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Operating income margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was 8.0% compared to 10.8% in
the fourth quarter of 2015 and 10.1% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Adjusted operating income margin was 12.9% compared to 14.7% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 14.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was $0.45 compared to $0.43 in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $0.46 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.61 compared to $0.56 in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $0.61 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Financial Highlights: Full Year 2016

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased
9.1% to $686.0 million compared to $628.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

-Operations Management revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased 2.7% to $520.3 million compared to $506.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

-Analytics revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased 35.7% to $165.7 million compared to $122.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Operating income margin for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 9.4% compared to 10.7% for the year ended December 31, 2015. Adjusted operating income margin for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 14.0% compared
to 14.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $1.79 compared to $1.51 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $2.33 compared to $2.03 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Business Highlights: Fourth Quarter 2016

Acquired Datasource Consulting, LLC, a provider of enterprise management and business intelligence solutions.

Won 13 new clients, consisting of 6 new clients in Operations Management and 7 new clients in Analytics. For the full year, we won 40 new clients, 21 in Operations Management and 19 in Analytics.

Announced the appointment of Nagaraja Srivatsan as the Company's EVP, Chief Growth Officer.

Positioned as a Leader in the "IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Business Analytics BPO Services 2016 Vendor Assessment."

Included in both the HfS Research "2016 RPA Premier League Table" and "HfS Blueprint Report: Intelligent Automation 2016."

Positioned as a High Performer in the "HfS Blueprint Report: Digital Marketing Operations 2016."

Expanded multiple Operations Management relationships, including migrating 61 new processes. For the full year we migrated 213 processes.

Share Repurchase

Today, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized an additional $100 million common stock repurchase program, effective immediately.
The approval increases the 2017 authorization from $20 million to $40 million and authorizes stock repurchases of up to $40 million in 2018 and 2019. The shares may be purchased through December 31, 2019 by the Company on the open market and through private transactions as determined by EXL's management.

2017 Guidance

Based on current visibility and a U.S. Dollar to Indian rupee exchange rate of 67.0, British Pound to U.S. Dollar exchange rate at 1.25, U.S. Dollar to the Philippine Peso exchange rate of 50.0 and all other currencies at current exchange rates, the Company is providing the following guidance for the calendar
year 2017:

Revenues of $735 million to $760 million, representing an annual revenue growth of 8% to 11% on a constant currency basis.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.50 to $2.60, representing an annual increase of 7% to 12%.

Conference Call

ExlService Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 8:00 A.M. ET to discuss the Company's quarterly operating and financial results. The conference call will be available live via the internet by accessing the investor relations section of EXL's website at ir.exlservice.com, where an accompanying investor-friendly spreadsheet of historical operating and financial data can also be accessed. Please access the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

To listen to the conference call via phone, please dial 1-877-303-6384, or if dialing internationally, 1-224-357-2191 and an operator will assist you. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the EXL website ir.exlservice.com.

About ExlService Holdings, Inc.

EXL (NASDAQ:EXLS) is a leading operations management and analytics company that designs and enables agile, customer-centric operating models to help clients improve their revenue growth and profitability. Our delivery model provides market-leading business outcomes using EXL's proprietary Business EXLerator Framework™, cutting-edge analytics, digital transformation and domain expertise. At EXL, we look deeper to help companies improve global operations, enhance data-driven insights, increase customer satisfaction, and manage risk and compliance. EXL serves the insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, utilities, travel, transportation and logistics industries. Headquartered in New York, New York, EXL has more than 26,000 professionals in locations throughout
the United States, Europe, Asia (primarily India and Philippines), South America, Australia and South Africa. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

Continuing Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL's operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL's control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL's possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management's experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You
should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL's actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed in more detail in EXL's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. These risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by forward-looking statements in this release. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of
the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

EXLSERVICE
HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Year ended December 31,

Three months ended December 31

2016

2015

2016

2015

Revenues, net

$

685,988

$

628,492

$

177,274

$

165,858

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

447,956

402,917

115,784

106,116

Gross profit

238,032

225,575

61,490

59,742

Operating expenses:

General and administrative expenses

88,648

77,293

25,028

19,865

Selling and marketing expenses

50,582

49,474

12,707

13,705

Depreciation and amortization

34,580

31,465

9,580

8,294

Total operating expenses

173,810

158,232

47,315

41,864

Income from operations

64,222

67,343

14,175

17,878

Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net

5,597

2,744

2,024

397

Interest expense

(1,343

)

(1,338

)

(320

)

(355

)

Other income/(expense), net

15,408

7,027

3,211

1,744

Income before income taxes

83,884

75,776

19,090

19,664

Income tax expense

22,151

24,211

3,602

4,902

Net income

$

61,733

$

51,565

$

15,488

$

14,762

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

1.84

$

1.55

$

0.46

$

0.44

Diluted

$

1.79

$

1.51

$

0.45

$

0.43

Weighted-average number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 35,699,819 shares issued and 33,628,109 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 34,781,201 shares issued and 33,091,223 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015

36

35

Additional paid-in-capital

284,646

254,052

Retained earnings

382,722

320,989

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(75,057

)

(67,325

)

Total including shares held in treasury

592,347

507,751

Less: 2,071,710 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 1,689,978 shares as of December 31, 2015, held in treasury, at cost

(60,362

)

(42,159

)

ExlService Holdings, Inc. stockholders' equity

531,985

465,592

Non-controlling interest

193

179

Total equity

532,178

465,771

Total liabilities and equity

$

706,528

$

650,783

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures

In addition to its reported operating results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), EXL has included in this release adjusted financial measures (adjusted operating income, adjusted operating income margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and information on a constant currency basis) that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as "non-GAAP financial measures." The adjusted financial measures disclosed by EXL should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance
with GAAP and reconciliations from those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. EXL believes that providing these adjusted measures may help investors better understand EXL's underlying financial performance. Management also believes that these adjusted financial measures, when read in conjunction with EXL's reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company's results and comparisons of the Company's results with the results of other companies. Additionally, management considers some of these adjusted financial measures to determine variable compensation of its employees. EXL believes that it is unreasonably difficult to provide its earnings per share financial guidance in accordance with GAAP for a number of reasons including, without limitation, EXL's inability to predict its future stock-based
compensation expense under ASC Topic 718, the amortization of intangibles associated with further acquisitions and the currency fluctuations. EXL also incurs significant non-cash charges for depreciation that may not be indicative of the Company's ability to generate cash flow.

Additionally, EXL provides certain information on a constant currency basis, which reflects a comparison of current period results translated at the prior period currency rates. EXL primary exchange rate exposure is with the Indian Rupee, the U.K. pound sterling and the Philippine peso. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Indian rupee increased from 66.08 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 to 67.70 during the quarter ended December 31, 2016
, representing a depreciation of 2.5%. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Philippine peso increased from 47.01 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 to 49.29 during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, representing a depreciation of 4.9%. The average exchange rate of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar decreased from 1.51 during the quarter ended December 31, 2015 to 1.23 during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, representing a depreciation of 18.5%. This information is provided because EXL believes that it provides useful comparative incremental information to investors regarding EXL's operating performance.

The following table shows the reconciliation of these adjusted
financial measures from GAAP measures for the year ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the three months ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended September 30, 2016:

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income

(Amounts in thousands)

Year EndedDecember 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

Three Months EndedSeptember 30,

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

Net Income (GAAP)

$

61,733

$

51,565

$

15,488

$

14,762

$

16,050

add: Income tax provision

22,151

24,211

3,602

4,902

5,646

subtract: Other
income and foreign exchange gain, net

(19,662

)

(8,433

)

(4,915

)

(1,786

)

(4,337

)

Income from operations (GAAP)

$

64,222

$

67,343

$

14,175

$

17,878

$

17,359

add: Stock-based compensation expense (a)

19,770

16,047

5,027

3,768

4,483

add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles (b)

11,873

10,226

3,592

2,717

2,848

Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP)

$

95,865

$

93,616

$

22,794

$

24,363

$

24,690

Adjusted operating income margin as a % of Revenues (Non-GAAP)

14.0

%

14.9

%

12.9

%

14.7

%

14.4

%

add: Depreciation

22,707

21,239

5,988

5,577

5,749

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)

$

118,572

$

114,855

$

28,782

$

29,940

$

30,439

Adjusted EBITDA margin as a % of revenue (Non-GAAP)

17.3

%

18.3

%

16.2

%

18.1

%

17.8

%

(a) To exclude stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718.

(b) To exclude amortization of acquisition-related intangibles.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to Net Income